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This thing has been hashed out before, but some of the money wasted on it might have best gone into some R & D of a people mover so something useful might have come of it. That long stretch of nothing hardly looks inviting. Think Ponte Vecchio otherwise.

giorgio

what for??? so boring sand old fashion stuff...

Fling

30 technological years to come to the conclusion that bridges are better with more steel,more concrete and more money, and more, er, pods.
And the best way to halt the population decline of the Oranutang is to arm them with machine guns.

John

There's absolutely no need for something like this...

Rafalmik

Ugly

vico

It's a shame because Zaha's conceptual drawings from the 80s (?) of an inhabited bridge over the Thames are dynamite. She is now in a position to realise her architectural fantasies but seems to have lost the mojo. I wouldn't have paused to look at these images without the name attached.

rypat

I totally agree with John.

jxd

you're right John. Art is pretty useless when you get right down to it...

I thought bridges were supposed to be light and allow ships underneathe. I agree with FLING. Looks like a bit too much concrete to be a bridge. Quite massive actually.. What kind of bridge-building research was used? Didn't the Greeks and Romans build pretty nice bridges over 2000 years ago? Why not take some of their research? they're still standing. I doubt this bridge will stand more than 50 years.

alex

stunning interior but the it just looks clumsy and over engineered from the outside . Surely Zaha capable of something more elegant?

yes!

this is the decade of the titanium turd - albeit this one goes one pushes the boundaries with a bit of surface patterning (so hot right now).

i think future generations will look on most of Hadid's work in much the same way as environmentalists now look at Hummers...

Tyler

I completely agree with Dariusz, the first thing I thought when I saw this was, my god that thing is massive! Not to mention that the interior shots make the space look really dark and uninviting; like entering a cave.

MiM

Funny how you architects can be flimsy: same project/different images a week ago, to wow-like comments, now after only a week all seems to have become garbage.

Respect, you guys! (I am being ironic, for those who didn’t get it)

alefra

right, this building KICKS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and I happily let you guys whine longing for Ponte Vecchio (which, for those who have seen it, is equally massive)

this is great architecture, that's it.

joe

zaha hadid is wack

MiM

high profile comments don't seem to abound in this space.
Joe's a good example of such intellectual depth.

I work in event design and I love it! I love that she's combined spaces with such different needs and made it work. I think it's a fun, elegant design. I can see a ton of potential for the use of those spaces.

I'm going to Zaragoza to see it . I think its Zaha's best piece recently.

To those who go on with the negative comments, you just wish you could be Zaha. I only hear jalousy and envy in your words.

Whenever you get the chance to design something this hot, perhaps that day you can be justified to judge it.

As for Yes! comment about her architecture being seen as Hummers in the future, I think its way different than a car production. This piece is unique. Few architects get the chance to really express formalism as they intend, and if Zaha Hadid can do it now, it's because she was able to stay focus on design philosophy for so long.

Do you remember she was known as an architect that didn't built alot just a decade ago, although she's been in the news for much longer?

I think its a beautifull pavillion, and if more buildings looks this good, we would live in a better world.

roadkill

this sucks, why do you keep showing the same hollow piece of crap again and again... just had the images to the original post, I am here to see architecture... GOOD architecture

Michael

I rather enjoy this project by Hadid. Thinking about how pedestrian commutes are (being a full time pedestrian) its the same scenery that you slowly travel through at different times of the day. A bridge is nothing more then an elevated path crossing an obstruction. What if that bridge were a series of spaces. A series of dynamic spaces that changed in accordance to the people, the weather, the daylight, river conditions etc. This, if maintained (given the budget, this will be well maintained and programmed), will be a real joy to experience each day. Its not just a naked bridge spanning a muddy river. It is so much more. A place to visit.
When visiting a bridge you have a a few ways of viewing it. From the banks, on the bridge and from the river. This is a bridge that can almost never be viewed the same way twice. Doesn't anyone see how delightful that would be? Bridges and piers with things to do and see are always popular. I do not see this becoming a security issue, but a fantastic public space.

Ali

why are people in this forum so agaist expensive buildings? Do you think that the pantheon was chaep to build? why does every architect need to concern himself/hersef with efficiency??? Loosen up guys!!!!

jxd

completely agree with Ali.

edward

"and I happily let you guys whine longing for Ponte Vecchio (which, for those who have seen it, is equally massive)"

Not surprisingly, you missed the point entirely. Where are the pavilions?
And what is in them? Are they worth the trek. I don't think so. The object seems to get to the other side for the exhibits. I think a water ride of some sort would have made the journey more fun. Maybe like the tunnel of love. The problem is that stararchitects think in terms of objects.

“Not surprisingly, I missed the point entirely?” Well you do seem to know me well, don't you?

Ever heard of the word: “PRESUMPTION”?

Michael

OTRgirl:
Is that event design near Hadid's Contemporary Art Center?

razifohnas

Wait.. are people actually flirting each other on this page ?
Sheesh.. people, do it somewhere else please ..
we have some serious issues about architecture and mankind.
Have you got no shame ?

To Zaha, lovely programme.

gaque

ali and jxd, we concern ourselves with efficiency because buildings and construction consume more energy than anything else in the world. i'm just going to say: think about that.

blah blah

i hate it - it's ugly, too big too bubbly... da da da
whiners
shut the F up and get to work. Design and build it better with your anonymous confidence.
or at least link something better.
prove that this is really garbage.

yrag

Hey it's like the reaction to "Le Sacre du printemps" AKA "The Rite of Spring" all over again! Boy, how times change! When you can rile up this much hate, you must be doing something right Zaha.

Gaque, may I suggest you to get informed before talking about energy costs for building maintenance? As the text says, this one is mostly naturally ventilated = zero energy and water waste for acclimatization.
And, “nice” attempt to cover Edward’s on-and-on-and-on criticism towards capital being invested in architecture with the Oh-So-Fashionable appeal to sustainability: too bad we don’t buy it.

Just to say I agree with Ali.

stu

hmmm i was there and i dont really know what it should be for......... outside it is o.k. but inside its sooooo unfunctional and they want present art there???

the finish, details are very bad workdout, thre isnt paint in the corners and construction material was forgotten to take away......

hmmm........

alefra

.. built from A to Z in one year, mind you!

Liv

Killer pabillion. Very of her. This is a great architecture. Please appreciate it. But again, cant blame who against her, since architecture is like art. It is yes, indeed a subjective and personal matter.

Sab

Thanks to Fernando Guerra. Please have a look before waste your words. And remember what Spain builts, it's Zaragoza's money. Stu should share some pictures with all of us about what he saw. Don't you like to see the process of contruction and "living" of a building? Remember is a Pavilion and a bridge. When those who talk about function go and visit and exhibition there, you can talk truely about the apropiate solution for a programme like it. Formal... is beatiful.

edward

What stu says confirms my impressions from the pictures. The thing is just an exercise in free form design and not a response to a program. It's a folly.

Hey eddie, everyone isnt qualified to understand/critique architecture either. Feel free to put yourself on that list. Same goes for everyone else who feels art needs to be 'functional' to be good.

leandro locsin

this architecture is exciting!

i cant blame people for seeing art as useless but if their feeling is true then why did the mona lisa painting exist for centuries longer than the cold hearts of those who see art as without use?

to use zaha's words... 'there is loss in belief in the realm of imagination"

architecture is a beautiful art, and it has strong abilities to go beyond a program or a requirement. all architects in this forum can and able to provide function but few and rare can provide something beyond. just observe how zaha catch those lines, those voids and those silhouettes.

many can oppose but few can propose. it takes a lot of ability to put aside bitterness, self-interest and all the grudge a person may have in this world before passing a fair judgement / criticism.

most are pessimists but lets see how pessimism can help you as an architect... lets see if those disbeliefs can lead to getting something built.

its funny, how people crit actually reflects how they perceive architecture... and how they see it shows the level of belief.

ONE

Perhaps what's so compelling of Zaha's architecture is its ability to invoke such furious discussions.. if one can look beyond one own preconceived notion, you'll be able to appreciate the beauty of the alternatives or the different.. I'm not necessary a fan of zaha's work but i do think she brings in a very exciting brand of architecture.. To deride the project as being worthless base on pictures is being rather superficial and a serious lack of appreciation of an architect's work..

alefra

Similarly, not everyone loves those uninspiring sort of buildings you seem to get so hot about.

Respect others’ opinions.

Keunert

this discussion reminds me about a text i read years ago about ciam. some mediocre architects were bashing those italians (and indirectly corbusier) for producing tailored buildings instead of blueprints for mass production.

besides not liking zaha hadids aesthetics too much, how excitet can one be about a formula that get's repeated over and over again? it doesn't matter much if its a bridge, a museum or a home, it's the same formula. what oma, herzog demeuron, or genius like s de moura do is a more difficult to achieve

beckham

alefra

learn about respect before you demand respect from others, why dont you show us your inspiring building?

gaque

Hi MiM,

"May I suggest" you actually look at the structure instead of reading the accompanying text, and believing its every word?

The structure is clearly not energy efficient, either in its materials, construction process, or maintenance/conditioning. You say that it is naturally ventilated, but that would require a cross breeze, which is hardly possible because only one side of the bridge is open to the air. Besides, the supposed "rotating/opening" shingles have been already described as false. None of the windows open. Where exactly is the water management system for this thing? The ridge beam seems to be sealed, as well, meaning the hot air cannot escape easily.

Ridiculous...All of Zaha's structures are, as already accurately described, the Hummers of architecture. You know, those 2 miles per gallon hunks of metal...?

roadkill

LOL... what a pile of junk... if she's going to do bridges then stick to the 'Living bridge' concept over the Thames... that was an interesting project, this is just a bridge too far...

roadkill

hey alefra go skin a goose... just coz you work for the shedevil does not mean you know merde!!!

John Avlakiotis

PLEASE!
NO MORE ZAHA HADID BUILDINGS ON THIS PLANET!
(I am so tired of organic shaped buildings-they stress me out)

I think this is a really beautiful space. I like the way light falls in patterns on the interior. It is an impressive space and it satisfies one's natural responsiveness to organic lines and shapes. The accepted norm of what a bridge should be was analyzed and reinvented to create something totally different and new. It challenges our way of thinking.